Bob Cringeley makes a bold statement in a blog post responding to Apple's iCloud announcement: "Jobs is going to sacrifice the Macintosh in order to kill Windows." He says, "The incumbent platform today is Windows because it is in Windows machines that nearly all of our data and our ability to use that data have been trapped. But the Apple announcement changes all that. Suddenly the competition isn't about platforms at all, but about data, with that data being crunched on a variety of platforms through the use of cheap downloaded apps."

The iPad isn't exactly affordable. It may be cheaper than its competitors, granted, but all tablets are still incredibly expensive for what they're up to in practice. Except maybe Archos' ones, haven't had a look at them for some time...

The iPad isn't exactly affordable. It may be cheaper than its competitors, granted, but all tablets are still incredibly expensive for what they're up to in practice. Except maybe Archos' ones, haven't had a look at them for some time...

...but I think we have to look at "affordable" in the context of the market the product is in, don't we?

Otherwise, it's a free-for-all and entirely subjective. What is affordable to you may not be affordable to me and vise versa.

In any case, when Apple is one of the cheapest in a segment, or has the greatest value per cost, it's a bit silly for others to suggest the price is an Apple specific issue or barrier to entry.